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Council approves grant application for one traffic safety officer under governor’s highway safety program
Summary
Smithfield approved submission of a Governor’s Highway Safety Program grant request to fund one traffic safety officer; the three-year grant covers start-up costs and phases down salary support, the chief said, and the motion passed unanimously.
The Smithfield Board of Commissioners approved the Smithfield Police Department’s application to the Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) to fund one traffic safety officer assigned primarily to traffic enforcement and pedestrian and roadway safety initiatives.
Police leadership told council the GHSP grant is intended to fund a traffic-focused sworn officer; in addition to traffic enforcement the position will answer emergency calls as needed but will prioritize crash response, speed enforcement, DUI enforcement and other high-impact traffic safety tasks. The chief said the grant contains specific reporting requirements and that the program historically provides strong start-up support: the grant covers start-up equipment and vehicle costs in year one (uniforms, radios, vehicle outfit) and phases salary support over a three-year period.
“The nice thing about this grant is it covers a lot for that first year,” the Police Chief said, describing equipment and vehicle coverage and noting the grant’s year‑by‑year salary contribution schedule.
Council members asked how the position would be deployed and whether it could be used for sustained enforcement in neighborhoods that report speeding and stop-sign violations; the chief said crash and complaint data will guide deployment and that the position will focus where data and constituent complaints indicate the greatest need.
Council approved the request and instructed staff to apply for the GHSP award. The motion passed unanimously.
